Worcester council calling on state for answers on Willis Center closure

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2013 at 10:00 PMJan 29, 2013 at 11:13 PM

By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

With the Henry Lee Willis Community Center set to close its doors next Wednesday, city councilors are still searching for answers on why the agency had all its state funding pulled.

In an attempt to get those answers, the City Council tonight unanimously approved a resolution in which it is asking the state Department of Health and Human Services to have a high-ranking official attend a public meeting here next week to explain what has happened and why.

The City Council Public Health and Human Services Committee is meeting at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss the situation regarding the Willis Center.

In advance of that meeting, Councilor-at-Large Joseph C. O’Brien said the council should ask the state Department of Health and Human Services to have a representative there so the public can get answers to the many questions it has about the Willis Center and the transition of programs and services it has provided to other agencies.

Councilor-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton said the fact that state officials have been so silent about why the Willis Center lost its state funding could be an indication that something is preventing them from being more candid.

He said if state officials cannot provide any details because of an ongoing investigation, then the public should be told that.

“Is there an investigation going on that prevents them from giving full disclosure?” Mr. Rushton asked. “If there isn’t an investigation, then they should spill the beans because the city certainly deserves it.

“Our biggest issue going forward, though, is working on establishing transition controls for local people,” he added. “The ship has sailed; (Willis Center) will be shuttering its doors and it’s time to chart a new course.”William S. Coleman III and Brenda Jenkins petitioned the City Council Tuesday night for an opportunity to address it and the city administration regarding the closing of the Willis Center.

Ms. Jenkins urged the council to press members of the local state legislative delegation for answers why the Willis Center, which has provided a wide array of social services to the local minority community for more than two decades, had more than $11 million in state funding pulled, and an explanation of the process the state used to reallocate its contracts to other agencies.

She questioned why other minority organizations and agencies were not included in the contract allocation process.

Ms. Jenkins added that about 280 employees of the Willis Center are about to lose their job and many of them do not know if they are going to be transitioned into other agencies.

“It’s an injustice for the city of Worcester that we do not have any answers,” she said. “It’s an injustice to have (the Willis Center) lose more than $11 million (in state funding) with no one raising red flags or questions.”

Mr. Coleman, meanwhile, said the void caused by the closing of the Willis Center is “huge.” He said the community is frustrated by the lack of answers from elected officials.

“This is really important; it’s about diversity,” he said. “We need to get some real answers. The community of diversity is looking for political leadership from our local elected officials. Why did Henry Lee Willis lose its contracts?”

Mayor Joseph M. Petty said he shares everyone’s frustration on this matter. He said the state has been very clear that it’s not going to say much more about it.

He said it is important for city officials to focus their attention on working on solutions and making sure that those people who have been served by the Willis Center continue to be serviced by “culturally competent” people.

“I know this is hurtful,” Mr. Petty said. “I hear you loud and clear and I share your frustration.”

District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri, who said he first learned of the demise of the Willis Center when former state Rep. Vincent A. Pedone told him about it at a Christmas Party in December, urged the mayor to convene a public meeting in the next couple of weeks with local state legislators, city councilors and representatives from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services to discuss the matter.

But Mr. Petty said he first wanted to see what happens at Monday’s council committee meeting before arranging such a meeting. Mr. Palmieri, meanwhile, said he wasn’t confident that much light would be shed during the committee meeting.

District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera said she can’t express her level of frustration on the matter. She added that she is “extremely disheartened” to see the way some of the Willis Center’s programs are being transitioned to larger, out-of-town agencies, such as the South Middlesex Opportunity Council. She said some local agencies were never even approached about taking on some of the programs.

“It’s like sharks in a tank out there,” she said. “How are some of our local agencies going to be able to compete for these contracts? How were these organizations chosen? We need to know what the state’s plans are so agencies and organization that are culturally competent will be able to obtain contracts.”

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